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OTTAWA—As Canadian police push for more power in the online world, documents obtained by the Star suggest privacy-protecting encryption software is here to stay.

A memo prepared for Daniel Therrien, the privacy commissioner, stated it would be difficult for any one country to weaken or ban encryption technology.

The document, obtained under access to information law, summarizes a report from the U.S. committee on homeland security pointing out that encryption tools are now “ubiquitous.”

“Encryption tools very much are now ubiquitous, globally distributed and irrevocable, which plainly no piece of domestic regulation or law-making will undo, given that two-thirds of encryption products are produced and sold by non-U.S. firms,” the memo reads.

In other words, if the bad guys want to hide their tracks, they’ll have plenty of options even if Canada or the U.S. attempts to weaken or ban encryption.

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The RCMP are making a very public push for more powers to obtain Canadians’ private information from telecommunication companies and to decode encrypted messages.

Encryption is a way of securing online activity and is used in everything from online banking and purchases, to text messages between smartphones, to protecting government networks.

The U.S. report estimates that almost half of the encryption-software market is used for financial services, such as online banking. In 2015, encryption technology supported almost $342 billion in e-commerce transactions.

Western law enforcement agencies have repeatedly requested powers to weaken encryption and decode messages, explaining that terrorists, child pornographers and drug dealers use the technology to hide their crimes.

RCMP commissioner Bob Paulson told a joint Star/CBC investigation it has reached the point where if a citizen is a victim of a crime online, he’s not sure the Mounties can help.

But a report from the U.S. committee on homeland security, summarized for Therrien in the memo, states that weakening encryption would probably compromise public safety rather than improve it.

“Technology, such as encryption, protects our data and our infrastructure, and helps to ensure the privacy of our citizens; yet it is also exploited by bad actors, including drug traffickers, child predators, and terrorists, to facilitate criminal activities and threaten our national security,” the report, issued by the committee this year, reads.

“Thus, what we are really dealing with is not so much a question of ‘privacy versus security,’ but a question of ‘security versus security.’ ”

The committee recommended that a panel of technology experts, civil rights advocates, and representatives from the law enforcement and intelligence communities analyze the debate and develop recommendations for congress.

U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul, the Republican chair of the security committee, reiterated that call in an email to the Star Friday.

“The United States should be leading efforts to develop a sustainable, sensible solution,” McCaul’s office wrote.

“Instead, we are sitting on our hands and doing nothing. A national commission would bring the key players to the table to develop recommendations for maintaining privacy and digital security, while also finding ways to keep criminals and terrorists from exploiting these technologies to escape justice.”

North of the border, the federal Liberals are examining Canada’s national security framework, including such issue as warrantless access to Canadians’ private information and encryption.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, who is leading that consultation, has remained neutral on the issue pending the results of the exercise.

“We have invited everyone with a view to come forward with their perspective. Obviously, the police perspective is being advanced with a good deal of vigour and enthusiasm from their perspective of law enforcement,” Goodale told the Star last week.

A spokesperson for Therrien’s office said there would comment on the issue in December because it is preparing its response to the national security consultation.

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